Multiple-Water-Pans Humidifier

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a humidifier having multiple water pans stacked together with one water pan at the top of the stack and one water pan at the bottom of the stack and the remainder water pans in the middle of the stack; within each water pan, there are evaporate pads comprised of multiple layers and positioned in sequences like wave after wave. Water fills the water pan at the top the stack and continues to fill the water pans in the middle of the stack one by one and then the water pan at the bottom of the stack; in doing so, water moistens the evaporator pads within each water pan, while warm air moves through the evaporator pads, warm air absorbs moisture to create humidified air.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent applicationNo. 62/858,202 filed on Jun. 6, 2019, entitled Multiple-Water-PansHumidifier, which provisional patent application is incorporated byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, Multiple-Water-Pans Humidifier, generally relatesto central humidifiers or whole-house humidifiers. There are two commontypes of central humidifiers or whole-house humidifiers on the market:flow-through humidifiers and drum humidifiers. These two types ofhumidifiers generate humidified air in different ways. For flow-throughhumidifiers, water from water supply moistens an evaporator pad, whilewarm air moves through it, warm air absorbs moisture to createhumidified air. For drum humidifiers, a rotating evaporator pad spins ina water pan, lifting water into warm air to generate humidified air. Incomparison, flow-through humidifiers have lower maintenance costs andrequire less frequent maintenance than drum humidifiers. However,flow-through humidifiers tend to deliver lower moisture output and areless efficient than drum humidifiers.

The advantages of the present invention are that it delivers highermoisture output and are more efficient than flow-through humidifiers onthe market. In addition, the current invention has lower maintenancecosts and requires less frequent maintenance than drum humidifiers.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Under the current invention, humidified air is generated in a similarway as flow-through humidifiers: water from water supply moistensevaporator pads, while warm air moves through the evaporator pads, warmair absorbs moisture to create humidified air. What distinguishes thecurrent invention from prior arts is that the present invention consistsof multiple water pans stacked together; wherein multiple evaporatorpads are placed inside of each water pan; wherein the evaporate pads arestructured in multiple layers and positioned within the water pans insequences like wave after wave.

The present invention contains two different ways by which the multiplewater pans are stacked together. According to the first method, thewater pans are stacked together, wherein each water pan is placed in alevel position, wherein an overflow draining hole is placed inside ofeach water pan, wherein the height of the overflow draining hole islower than the height of the water pan. Water flows from water tubingpipes and fill the first water pan at the top of the stack. When thelevel of water in the first water pan exceeds the height of the overflowdraining hole of the first water pan, water continuous to flow via theoverflow draining hole of the first water pan to a water pan immediatelybelow the first water pan. When the level of water in the second waterpan exceeds the height of the overflow draining of the second water pan,water continues to flow via the overflow draining hole of the secondwater pan to a water pan immediately below the second water pan. In asimilar fashion, water fills and flows through the water pans below thesecond water pan until it reaches the last water pan at the bottom ofthe stack. When the level of water in the last water pan exceeds theheight of the overflow draining hole of the last water pan, water drainsout via the overflow draining hole of the last water pan.

Under the second method, the multiple water pans are stacked together,wherein the last water pan at the bottom of the stack is placed in alevel position, wherein all the other water pans atop the last water panare placed in slant positions, wherein a water chute is attached to thehigher end of the first water pan at the top of the stack, wherein anoverflow draining hole is placed inside the last water pan at the bottomof the stack, wherein the height of the overflow draining hole is lowerthan the height of the last water pan at the bottom of the stack. Waterflows from water tubing pipes and fills the water chute. When the waterchute is filled, water flows along the slant surface of the first waterpan at the top of the stack. When water reaches the lower end of thefirst water pan, water drops through the opening at the lower end of thefirst water pan and reaches the higher end of a water pan immediatelybelow the first water pan. Water continues to flow along the slantsurface of the second water pan. When water reaches the lower end of thesecond water pan, water drops through the opening at the lower end ofthe second water pan and reaches the higher end of a water panimmediately below the second water pan. In a similar fashion, watercontinues to flow along the slant surfaces of the water pans below thesecond water pan until it reaches the lower end of the water pan whichis placed immediately above the last water pan at the bottom of thestack. Water drops through the opening at the lower end of the water panwhich is positioned immediately above the last water pan and continuesto fill the last water pan. When the level of water in the last waterpan exceeds the height of the overflow draining hole of the last waterpan, water drains out via the overflow draining hole of the last waterpan.

Compared to what is currently available on the market, the presentinvention delivers higher moisture output via multiple water pansstacked together and multi-layered evaporator pads positioned within thewater pans in sequences like wave after wave. In addition, since thecurrent invention utilizes fresh water supply, the present inventionstays clean longer, has lower maintenance costs and requires lessfrequent maintenance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and itsadvantages, reference is now made to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompany drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing a humidifier.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the humidifier.

FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 8 and FIG. 13 demonstrate thatmultiple evaporator pads are placed within each water pans and theevaporator pads are multiple-layered and formed in sequences like waveafter wave.

FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show the firstmethod of how the multiple water pans are stacked.

FIG. 10, FIG. 11, FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 illustrate the second way of howthe multiple water pans are stacked.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 demonstrates a humidifier 1 is connected with a supply duct 2,and a return duct 3 through a duct 5. Warm air flows from a furnace 4through the supply duct 2, and reaches the humidifier 1, wherein thedirection of air flow 6 is from the supply duct 2 to the humidifier 1.Inside the humidifier 1, warm air absorbs moisture to become humidifiedair and flows through the duct 5 to the return duct 3, wherein thedirection of air flow 6 is from the humidifier 1 to the return duct 3.

FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of the humidifier 1. FIG. 2demonstrates a mounting cover 7, several mounting holes 8 which connectthe humidifier 1 with the supply duct 2 in FIG. 1, an opening 9 whichconnects the humidifier 1 with the duct 5 in FIG. 1, water tubing pipes10 and a valve 11.

FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 8 and FIG. 11 are differentperspective views of the inside of the humidifier 1. FIG. 3 is a backperspective view of the humidifier 1 without the mounting cover 7 inFIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the humidifier 1. FIG. 5is a bottom perspective view of the humidifier 1 with the bottom ofhumidifier 1 cut open. FIG. 6 is another bottom perspective view of thehumidifier 1. FIG. 8 is another back perspective view of the humidifier1. FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of the humidifier 1. As FIG. 3,FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 8 and FIG. 13 demonstrate, multiple waterpans 12 are placed inside the humidifier 1; wherein the water pans 12are positioned in stacks; wherein multiple evaporator pads 13 arepositioned inside each water pan 12; wherein the evaporator pads 13 arestructured in multiple layers and placed in each water pan 12 in thesequence of wave after wave.

FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 demonstrate the firstway wherein water pans 12 are stacked together. Under the first method,the water pans 12 are placed in level positions and stacked together,wherein one water pan 12 is at the top of the stack, another water pan12 is in the middle of the stack and another water pan 12 is at thebottom of the stack. Inside each water pan 12, there is an overflowdraining hole 14. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show the draining hole 14 of thewater pan 12 at the bottom of the stack. FIG. 7 illustrates the overflowdraining hole 14 of the water pan 12 at the top of the stack. As FIG. 9demonstrates, the height of the overflow draining hole 15 is lower thanthe height of the water pan 16.

Under the first method, water flows from water tubing pipes and fill thewater pan 12 at the top of the stack. When the level of water in thewater pan 12 at the top of the stack exceeds the height of the overflowdraining hole 15, water continuous to flow via the overflow draininghole 14 inside the water pan 12 at the top of the stack to the water pan12 in the middle of the stack. In a similar fashion, water continues tofill the water pan 12 in the middle of the stack and the water pan 12 atthe bottom of the stack. When the level of water in the water pan 12 atthe bottom of stack exceeds the height of the overflow draining hole 15,water drains out via the overflow draining hole 14 inside of the waterpan 12 at the bottom of the stack.

FIG. 10, FIG. 11, FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 show the second method whereinwater pans 12 are stacked together. According to the second way, themultiple water pans are stacked together, wherein the last water pan atthe bottom of the stack is placed in a level position and all the otherwater pans atop the last water pan are placed in slant positions. AsFIG. 10, FIG. 11 and FIG. 13 illustrate, the water pan 12 at the top ofthe stack and the water pan 12 in the middle of the stack are bothpositioned in slant positions and the water pan 12 at the bottom of thestack is placed in a level position.

Under the second method, a water chute 17 is attached to the higher endof the water pan 12 at the top of the stack. Water flows from watertubing pipes and fills the water chute 17. When the water chute 17 isfilled, water flows along the slant surface of the water pan 12 at thetop of the stack. As FIG. 10, FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 illustrates, whenwater reaches the lower end of the water pan 12 at the top of the stack,water drops through the opening 18 at the lower end of the water pan atthe top of the stack and reaches the higher end of the water pan 12 inthe middle of the stack. Water continues to flow along the slant surfaceof the water pan 12 in the middle of the stack. When water reaches thelower end of the water pan 12 in the middle of the stack, water dropsthrough the opening 18 at the lower end of the water pan 12 in themiddle of the stack, and reaches the higher end of the water pan 12 atthe bottom of the stack, and continues to fill the water pan 12 at thebottom of the stack. Similar to the first method, when the level ofwater in the water pan 12 at the bottom of stack exceeds the height ofthe overflow draining hole 15, water drains out via the overflowdraining hole 14 inside the water pan 12 at the bottom of the stack.

What is claimed is:
 1. A humidifier comprising: Water pans configured tohold a volume of liquid in each water pan, Evaporate pads placed in eachwater pan, Wherein the evaporator pads are structured to absorb waterfrom the water pans and evaporate moisture when warm air flows throughthe evaporator pads.
 2. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein theevaporate pads placed in each water pan are comprised of multiple layersand are arranged in sequences like wave after wave.
 3. The humidifieraccording to claim 1, wherein the water pans are positioned in a stack.4. The humidifier according to claim 3, wherein the water pans arestacked together and each water pan is placed in a level position;wherein an overflow draining hole is placed inside each water pan;wherein the height of the overflow draining hole is lower than theheight of the water pan; wherein water flows from water tubing pipes andfill the first water pan at the top of the stack; wherein when the levelof water in the first water pan exceeds the height of the overflowdraining hole of the first water pan, water continuous to flow via theoverflow draining hole of the first water pan to the water panimmediately below the first water pan; wherein when the level of waterin the second water pan exceeds the height of the overflow draining holeof the second water pan, water continues to flow via the overflowdraining hole of the second water pan to a water pan immediately belowthe second water pan; wherein in a similar fashion, water fills andflows through the water pans below the second water pan until it reachesthe last water pan at the bottom of the stack; wherein when the level ofwater in the last water pan exceeds the height of the overflow draininghole of the last water pan, water drains out via the overflow draininghole of the last water pan.
 5. The humidifier according to claim 3,wherein the water pans are stacked together, the last water pan at thebottom of the stack is placed in a level position and all the otherwater pans are placed in slant positions; wherein a water chute isattached to the higher end of the first water pan at the top of thestack; wherein an overflow draining hole is placed inside the last waterpan at the bottom of the stack and the height of the overflow draininghole is lower than the height of the last water pan at the bottom of thestack; wherein water flows from water tubing pipes and fills the waterchute; wherein when the water chute is filled, water flows along theslant surface of the first water pan; wherein when water reaches thelower end of the first water pan, water drops through the opening at thelower end of the top water pan and reaches the higher end of the waterpan immediately below the first water pan; wherein water continues toflow along the slant surface of the second water pan; wherein when waterreaches the lower end of the second water pan, water drops through theopening at the lower end of the second water pan and reaches the higherend of the water pan immediately below the second water pan; wherein ina similar fashion, water continues to flow along the slant surfaces ofthe water pans under the second water pan until it reaches the lower endof the water pan which is positioned immediately above the last waterpan at the bottom of the stack; wherein water drops through the openingat the lower end of the water pan which is placed immediately above thelast water pan and continues to fill the last water pan. When the levelof water in the last water pan exceeds the height of the overflowdraining hole of the last water pan, water drains out via the overflowdraining hole of the last water pan.